News location:

Canberra Today 12°/15° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Canberrans warned of another measles case

CANBERRANS are urged to be aware of measles symptoms for a second time after a person acquired the infection on a recent overseas trip.

Acting ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman says no further cases linked to this one have been notified to ACT Health to date.

“The Health Protection Service (HPS) is following-up identified contacts in line with national guidelines,” Dr Coleman says. 

The person, while infectious, visited:

  • The food court and the Bags to Go store at South.Point (Tuggeranong Hyperdome) on Friday, August 24. 
  • The food court and the Bags to Go store at South.Point (Tuggeranong Hyperdome) on Saturday, August 25.
  • RM Williams and Canterbury stores at Canberra Outlet Centre, Fyshwick on Sunday, August 26.
  • Bags to Go store, Discount Drug Store and Woolworths at South.Point (Tuggeranong Hyperdome) on the morning of Tuesday, August 28. 

“People who attended these premises at these times should be aware for signs and symptoms of measles from now until September 15,” Dr Coleman says. 

“Anyone with symptoms of measles should seek medical advice, advising their health care provider before they arrive so that appropriate infection control precautions can be put in place to stop the spread of the infection.”

Dr Coleman says the symptoms of measles may include fever, tiredness, runny nose, sore eyes and a cough, followed by a rash which appears two to seven days later.

People generally develop symptoms seven  to 18 days after being exposed to a person with infectious measles, with 10 days being more common, and people are infectious from four days before they develop a rash until four days after.

“Measles is a serious disease and is highly contagious among people who are not fully immunised,” Dr Coleman says. 

“The virus is spread from an infectious person during coughing and sneezing or through direct contact with secretions from the nose or mouth.”

ACT Health has information about measles at health.act.gov.au/sites/default/files//Fact%20sheets/Measles.pdf

Who can be trusted?

In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.

If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.

Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.

Become a supporter

Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

Share this

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Follow us on Instagram @canberracitynews